ASBAREZ ONLINE [12-21-2004]

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12/21/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) No Other Document on Karabagh Is As Pro-Azeri As Atkinson's Report 2) Minsk Group to Inspect Mountainous Karabagh Territories 3) Sheikh Sultan Inaugurates Armenian Cultural Show 1) No Other Document on Karabagh Is As Pro-Azeri As Atkinson's Report By Tatoul Hakobian (AZG)--The former Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov, dissatisfied with the Parliamentary of Council of Europe's (PACE) latest report on the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, wrote a letter to PACE rapporteur David Atkinson, who authored the report.  Kazimirov, who chaired Russia's mediating mission in Karabagh, particularly blasted the pro-Azerbaijan nature of the report. "The most important international documents on Mountainous Karabagh always maintained balance in order to make it easy for the sides to compromise. None of them has ever been as single-mindedly pro-Azeri as yours," Kazimirov wrote. Having visited the Karabagh conflict zone 47 times, Kazimirov, considered an expert on the conflict, says both Atkinson's report, as well as his predecessor's Terry Davis's, neglect the history of the confrontation, the 1992-1994 war, and the conflict regulation process. "Many issues of the conflict resulted from actions on both sides; yet your approach pins the entire blame on the Armenian side. I am not trying to justify the Armenians; I only say that we need to be impartial in assessing the actions of both sides. Moreover, it was Azerbaijan that wanted to settle the Karabagh issue by means of force--that rejected all steps to ease the tension," he writes. Kazimirov stresses that Mountainous Karabagh, both in the UN formulas and OSCE documents, was either directly or indirectly recognized as a side to the conflict: "Only your formula overlooks this issue and recognizes only Armenia and Azerbaijan as sides--thus playing into Baku's hands." He recalls that the OSCE Budapest summit also mentions "three sides" to the conflict. He criticizes the report's emphasis on the importance of Karabagh's Azeri community. "Azerbaijan is a side to conflict--not the Azeri population in Mountainous Karabagh. There is no difference of viewpoints between Azerbaijan's and Karabagh's Azeri population," he stresses. "Could it be that it is appropriate to use the terms, 'London's British community,' 'Baku's Azeri community,' or 'Moscow's Russian community'?" Both the Davis and Atkinson reports, Kazimirov writes, refer to the four UN resolutions on the Karabagh conflict, accenting only demands for the withdrawal of Armenian Armed forces. Kazimirov stresses, however, that even having lost control over their territories, Azerbaijan's leadership persisted in their attempts to solve the conflict by force. Already having all the four resolutions of the UN Security Council, Baku directly ignored the chances of putting an end to hostilities three times. "Azerbaijan agreed on ceasefire under the threat of all-out defeat and loss of power--not to implement the UN Security Council's resolutions. The Armenians also had many problems, but they turned to be more flexible and constructive," Kazimirov reminds. The Russian diplomat concedes that the Armenians did not withdraw forces from the occupied territories, as stipulated by the UN formula, "But, in fact, Azerbaijan has not implemented any of the demands put forth by the UN either, and continue to this day to do nothing. Moreover, they demand that Turkey maintains its blockade of Armenia, threatens--time after time--to resume the war, and encourages anti-Armenian hysteria in Azerbaijan--but there is no word about this [in Atkinson's report]." Toward the end of his letter, Kazimirov reminds Atkinson that Armenia has full control over five regions and partial over two--not eight as Atkinson contends. He also notes that Azerbaijan also occupies Armenian territories such as Artsvashen. Kazimirov ends the letter with hope that a distinguished organization, such as PACE, will be able to demonstrate a balanced approach in the Karabagh conflict. 2) Minsk Group to Inspect Mountainous Karabagh Territories BAKU (Armenpress)--A Minsk Group fact-finding mission to Mountainous Karabagh in late January will seek to find out whether Armenians inhabit the "occupied territories," according to the Minsk Group's Russian co-chairman Yuri Merzlyakov. Azerbaijan's "525" daily reported that all three Minsk Group co-chairmen will participate, along with representatives from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and Finland--all OSCE Minsk Group participating countries. The Russian co-chairman revealed that the co-chairmen will most likely visit Yerevan and Baku at the beginning of January to clarify the details of their visit to Karabagh. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group is headed by the Co-chairmanship consisting of France, the Russian Federation, and the United States, and includes participating countries Belarus, Germany, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Turkey, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan. 3) Sheikh Sultan Inaugurates Armenian Cultural Show SHARJAH (Sharjah-Welcome.Com)--Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, inaugurated on Sunday the Armenian cultural exhibition at the art district. The art exhibition, which showcases more than 60 paintings and various other Armenian artworks, is in celebration of Sharjah's Armenian Cultural Week. Armenian Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan is visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the occasion. During his visit, a memorandum of understanding between Sharjah and Armenia was signed to consolidate cultural relations between the two countries and exchange expertise among Armenian and UAE artists. The formal inauguration was attended by various officials, among them Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Armenia's Ambassador to the UAE Dr. Arshak Poladyan, and Director-General of the Department of Culture and Information Abullah bin Mohammed bin Owais. Dr. Poladyan told Khaleej Times that through the initiative of Armenian Cultural Week, Sharjah residents will be able to gain more knowledge about Armenian culture, art, and folklore. Commending Dr. Sheikh Sultan's proposal, Poladyan said, "Dr. Sheikh Sultan showed great dedication in organizing and highlighting the Armenian cultural days in Sharjah--a very well known cultural hub. Armenian Cultural Week will strengthen the cultural ties between the UAE and Armenia and exchange various creative ideas between the artists." Dr. Sheikh Sultan expressed his appreciation of Armenian art while viewing the exhibition area, where a number of Armenian paintings and carpets are displayed.       According to the signed memorandum, the upcoming Sharjah Cultural Days 2005 will be held in Armenia. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. 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